How nice to have no end of season nerves!
IT'S rather a strange feeling to be heading into the final game of the season without a knot in my stomach.
Not that I'm complaining.
It may be unusual as a Sunderland fan to not have last game nerves, but the change is a refreshing one.
For once we can go into the final match – this one being an away day against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux – safe in the knowledge that we have nothing to worry about.
Of course, we will go there in the hope of taking all three points and finishing the season on a high, but, let's be honest, as long as we don't get a thrashing, the Sunderland fans are going to make sure they have a good day whatever the result.
I'm sure that the same isn't true for Steve Bruce and his players, who will want to make sure they give a good account of themselves.
And maybe more importantly, they will want to finish as high up the Premier League table as possible.
After all, points make prizes, and as I have said before, every place further up the table that you can finish will make for an extra cash bonanza.
Then there's the fact that I wouldn't mind getting one over Mick McCarthy – not that I have anything against the Wolves boss – I'd just like us to show how far we've come as a club since Mick was forced to operate on the most scant of shoestring budgets.
Oh, and just as importantly, it's always nice to see the red and whites win at home or away.
The last ball has yet to be kicked, the final whistle has not been blown, and already the silly season has started.
This week according to Egyptian international Ahmed Al-Muhammadi and his club ENPPI, the winger/full-back had agreed a 2.5m move to the Stadium of Light.
Yesterday, Sunderland came out via the club's website to deny any such claims, although the player did have a trial on Wearside last summer.
Of course, Sunderland aren't the only club who will be linked with every Tom, Dick or Harry from now until the end of August – they all will.
And as we continue to clamour for 24-7, minute by minute news on arrivals and departures, the hype and rumours are likely to grow by the day.
One name that continues to crop up is that of Paraguayan midfielder Cristian Riveros, who Bruce has admitted the Black Cats are keen to sign.
And according to reports, Bruce has suggested that one new name could be revealed in the next few days – my money's on that man Riveros.
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Weather for South Shields
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: 0 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -3 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South
